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<br />of chapter 3. The tax revenues and revenues to the water userS <br />in Montrose and Delta counties are contained in chapter 3 of the <br />EIS. <br /> <br />30. MR. JANES CLARK: Boating use of the Gunnison River is in <br />its infancy; it has the potential to become a huge business. Low <br />flows impact this use; low flows require increased work at the <br />Relief Diversion Dam and this is dangerous to boaters. <br /> <br />I am in strong disagreement with the DEIS conclusions that there <br />will be no adverse impacts on the trout fishery. A full river <br />channel of 500-600 ft'/s is best when considering the entire life <br />cycle of trout. This is because a full channel increases the <br />population of aquatic plants as well as aquatic insects. Also, a <br />full channel provides more habitat for the trout. The optimum <br />flow of 500-600 ft'/s would grow larger and more trout because the <br />increased area and increased biomass would allow favorable <br />growth, reproduction, and health of this world class fishery. <br /> <br />Studies show that the river between the North Fork and Austin to <br />be growing larger trout than the Gunnison Gorge. I feel that the <br />confluence to Austin stretch represents a fabulous resource for <br />our area. This reach with low flows in the 300 to 400 ft'/s range <br />last summer had water temperatures up to 72 to 75 degrees during <br />many of the days, and this had a negative effect on the trout. <br />The emergence of aquatic insects was reduced. Fishing that is <br />normally excellent was very slow. Trout do not do well when the <br />water temperature is in the seventies--oxygen is reduced and the <br />metabolism, growth, and health of the cold water species are all <br />negatively affected by these high temperatures. <br /> <br />I also heard reports of fish with parasites or leeches; it could <br />be the resistance was down on some fish. Studies dealing with <br />the warm water in the lower Gunnison River and the effect on the <br />aquatic life needs to be entered in the EIS. <br /> <br />The hydropower proposal would threaten the proposed Wild and <br />Scenic River designation. <br /> <br />There is no need for the project other than to help the water <br />users with debt retirement. <br /> <br />Mitigation measures, as proposed in the DEIS, fall way short of <br />alleviating the harm and loss of priceless aesthetics and <br />riparian habitat. The long-term economic losses to our <br />communities, as priceless resources and recreation, are <br />compromised and would in my opinion exceed the revenue gained <br />from power generation that appears unneeded. <br /> <br />RESPONSE: Boating on the Gunnison River has the potential to <br />increase in the future. The popularity of floating the river has <br />increased during high flow years; however, the low flow years <br />that invariably follow may slow this popularity. In spite of the <br />assumed decreased popularity, the demand for floating the river <br /> <br />P-23 <br />